Studies using the constitutive elimination of the mouse Il1r1 gene have provided important evidence of a requirement for IL-1R-mediated signaling in multiple phenomena, including pancreatic islet function in diabetes [36], atherosclerosis [37], splenocyte responses to glucocorticoid treatment [38] and alterations in transporter function within the CNS [35]. Here, IL1R1 is linked to diabetes mellitus.